Chairman McCollum\’s Opening Statement

Hearing on Ecoterrorism

Good afternoon. This hearing of the Crime Subcommittee shall come to order.
Today we are here to consider the growing and extremely disturbing problem
of violent acts by radical environmental organizations, or \”ecoterrorism.\”

Our great Nation was built upon the bedrock of free expression. Those with
strongly held views are welcomed into the public square. But when such
advocates threaten or injure in the name of the cause they hold dear, they
cross a very important line. Civilization cannot tolerate the physical attacks of
another person, simply because of differing views.

Obviously, when protest results in injury or death, the message gets lost. In
the case of today\’s witnesses, the lost message is ostensibly \”protect the earth.\”
Yet, as we will hear, ecoterrorism only encourages fear and anger. In the
name of protecting Mother Nature, radical environmentalists generate nothing
but terror.

There is no question that society has a large responsibility for protecting our
planet. We must be concerned about issues such as the wholesale
deforestation of rainforests and the extinction of some species of plant or
animal. Environmental groups have been very successful in heightening our
collective awareness of the limits of our natural resources. We know that we
must plant new trees in place of the old, and we must set up protective habitats
for birds, fish and other animals. Human beings have an obligation to be good
stewards of our environment.

Yet the very fact that we are already taking these important strides
underscores how inexcusable and unnecessary violent and destructive
behavior in the name of this cause really is. Peaceful education and consistent
advocacy in defense of plant and animal life has been proven to work. We
simply cannot and will not tolerate domestic terrorism in the name of Mother
Nature.

It should be noted that the Subcommittee has heard from the northern
California faction of \”Earth First,\”claiming that the movement\’s use of
violence has been exaggerated. We have welcomed them to submit testimony
for the record. We certainly do not want to unfairly malign any person or
group, and I invite any statements for the record which can help clarify what
actions the various groups endorse.

However, there is no denying that there have already been many victims of
radical environmental attacks. This is not a manufactured problem. Our
witnesses today have a unique perspective to bring to bear on this issue, and
many have been subjected to personal injury or have had thousands of dollars
in property destroyed. They are here to simply tell their stories, so that
Congress may become better educated about these violent environmental
movements, and I look forward to hearing from them.

Judiciary
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